Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Newbie question: CAM slot or card reader?

1 view
Skip to first unread message

RobertL

unread,
Sep 24, 2009, 8:44:00 AM9/24/09
to
I hope it's OK to ask a simple question. I rather new to all this.

Some receivers contain a "card reader" and others contain a "CAM
slot". it seems that with a CAM slot you buy a CAM to insert and and
then put the card into the CAM. With the "card slot" you just put the
card into the slot. the card is what you get when you pay the
subscription so the channel.

If I buy a box with a "card reader", such as the Technomade 3500, are
there some cards it will not accept? Why might I want one iwth a CAM
slot?

Please can somone clarify, or point me to a website that clarieis
this?

thank you,

Robert

Rob

unread,
Sep 24, 2009, 12:07:15 PM9/24/09
to
RobertL <rober...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I hope it's OK to ask a simple question. I rather new to all this.
>
> Some receivers contain a "card reader" and others contain a "CAM
> slot". it seems that with a CAM slot you buy a CAM to insert and and
> then put the card into the CAM. With the "card slot" you just put the
> card into the slot. the card is what you get when you pay the
> subscription so the channel.
>
> If I buy a box with a "card reader", such as the Technomade 3500, are
> there some cards it will not accept? Why might I want one iwth a CAM
> slot?

With a card reader, there is some key management system built into
the software of the receiver (or more than one) and it must be the
system used by the provider you want to watch. E.g. SECA, IRDETO,
VIACCESS, CONAX, etc.

With a CAM slot, this system is in the CAM that you insert. So your
CAM must be compatible with the provider you want to watch, but the
receiver is independent from this.

(not completely true, because for some systems there are no CAMs on
the market and it will only work when you have a receiver with the
system built in, and maybe even a receiver you get from your provider)

RobertL

unread,
Sep 25, 2009, 11:19:07 AM9/25/09
to
On Sep 24, 5:07 pm, Rob <nom...@example.com> wrote:

Aha, now I understand. So if I don't know what, if any, subscription
channels I will want I'd do better to get a receiver with a CAM slot.

I see that the technomate 3500, which i was thinking of, says the card
reader is Multicrypt. if i get the 5400 it has the multicrypt card
slot and a CAM slot.

thanks,

Roebrt

Rob

unread,
Sep 25, 2009, 2:00:56 PM9/25/09
to
RobertL <rober...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Aha, now I understand. So if I don't know what, if any, subscription
> channels I will want I'd do better to get a receiver with a CAM slot.

If you don't know which channels you want you better find this out
before you buy a receiver.
Some providers limit the choice of receivers you can use, or want to
lease one to you.

RobertL

unread,
Sep 28, 2009, 4:50:56 AM9/28/09
to
On Sep 25, 7:00 pm, Rob <nom...@example.com> wrote:

A good point thanks.

R

0 new messages